Early Signs of Pregnancy

The early signs of pregnancy vary from woman to woman; some may have all the signs in the book and others may have just a few or none. Each pregnancy is different from woman to woman, whether it is her first or fourth; there may be similarities but no two are predictably alike. The early signs of pregnancy vary greatly, and may be noted right away at two weeks after conception. If a woman usually has regular monthly cycles, then has a missed period, a high probability exists that she is pregnant. This is one of the cardinal early signs of pregnancy.

An over-the-counter pregnancy test can be purchased for a reasonable amount to confirm or deny the early signs of pregnancy. Depending on what type of pregnancy test is used, length of time after conception to when it is detectable can vary form test to test. Blood testing is the most reliable and can detect pregnancy hormones in as little as 48 hours after conception but more costly. Since urine testing is so inexpensive, this is the most common pregnancy test used, but cannot detect pregnancy until at least 2-4 weeks after conception, or 1-2 weeks after a missed period.

Among the other classic early signs of pregnancy are nausea upon arising in the morning (morning sickness), breast tenderness, and fatigue. Many women never experience morning sickness and some have it throughout their entire pregnancy. Two other early signs of pregnancy are frequent urination and increased vaginal secretions. As the uterus changes and grows pressure is placed on the bladder which is why pregnancy women never veer too far away from a restroom! The increased vaginal secretions are a sign of hormone production and formation of the mucous plug that will protect the developing fetus from bacteria and other harmful substances.

In some women, the early signs of pregnancy can be missed. If monthly cycles are irregular or absent, it may be very difficult for such a women to know she is pregnant. Certain types of birth control, such as the Pill or Depo-Provera injections may cause periods to be very light or absent. Being aware of the early signs of pregnancy gives a woman more control over the pregnancy, whether it is planned or not. There is a lot of information available on conception and the early signs of pregnancy from health care providers, women’s clinics, public health departments, and especially online for all women of child bearing age.